DEATH OF THE OLIGARCH Print

I am from London and paint all day. I am constantly trying to put colours and shapes together in a way that reflects how I feel or what I imagine. Its harder than it sounds. My current works are a play on words that tries to capture the ironic humour of designer products, of how beautiful and expensive things have a place in good-natured regard rather than as things merely to envy or pursue in unhappy desperation. Labels can be fun and witty, have a directness and candor that is surprizing and in this spirit I try to continue my fascination with the Pop Art movement. My previous themes have drawn their inspiration directly from Basquiat, Schnabel and the ghostly figurative shapes of Marlene Dumas and I still love the uninhibited freedom of chasing paint around a canvas and seeing where it takes me. My piece 'Death of the Oligarch' which depicts a decaying black Amex with a skull in the centre is my attempt at a wry comment around the hollowness of super-wealth without conscience, but again, I like to keep subjects light-hearted! I started drawing and painting as soon as I was able to hold a crayon. I was the kind of child about whom everyone said "he's going to be an artist" as they could never get me to do anything else. Being 'an artist' has been an incredible journey of highs and lows for me and it continues to be the only activity that makes any real sense, personally, for me to do. I have been really fortunate in that eventually most of my works have sold over the years (with a few being given as gifts!) and it's with gratitude to my patrons, collectors and random complimentary strangers that I am still able to paint and draw today. To my fellow artists I wish continued success and fulfilment. There are times when it can feel very tough, but creating beautiful things to look at is a gift to the world and anyone who does that is making the world a better place. Thanks for looking.